ALL-COUNTY VOLLEYBALL: Lenawee Christian's Long named Player of the Year

Friday

Nov 23, 2012 at 2:30 PM

LCS senior receives top honor after leading Cougars to district title

By Greg GanoDaily Telegram Special Writer

Lenawee Christian senior volleyball hitter Alexis Long excelled both offensively and defensively in her final season as a Cougar.

She won't hesitate to tell you at which one she thinks she's better.

"I do think I'm more of an offensive player," Long said. "I love just getting up and hitting the ball. I really do like playing defense, but I know that my position is in the front."

Said LCS coach Jessica Howell: "She's just an outstanding hitter. She sees the court very well and can put away the ball better than a lot of the players around the county and definitely better than anyone else on our team.

"We do design some plays to specifically cater to her, and she was definitely our go-to hitter, but there were times when she just made plays on her own."

Long's stats back up her coach. Long had a .350 attack percentage for fourth best in the county, 382 kills overall and 4.11 kills per set — the second best average in the county. For her efforts, Long has been recognized as The Daily Telegram's Lenawee County Player of the Year for the 2012 season.

The Spring Arbor University signee has been named Class D second team All-State, continuing a strong lineage of LCS honorees.

"She's an outstanding all-around player," Howell said. "She's not just a hitter. She's an outstanding defensive player in the back row and a great server."

Long, who has played AAU volleyball since a young age, developed her game further over the summer to become a versatile threat.

You could make an argument that defense is her strongest feature.

Long finished with 223 digs, 109 blocks and a county-best 1.17 blocks per set. Her defensive presence, combined with her offensive power, created problems for opponents every time she set foot on the court.

Just for good measure, Long finished with 204 service points, 40 aces and a 95.8 serving percentage for the eighth-best mark in the county.

Perhaps one of Long's best traits is one that cannot be measured: Her ability to take control on the court. As the Cougars have transitioned to coach Howell, who took over the program last season, Long's role as captain was vital for a team hoping to avoid a drop in its rich history of success.

"She's such a solid mental and emotional player," Howell said. "She's all around one of those types of players you want on the court."

Long said being a leader didn't add pressure.

"It's definitely a privilege to be a leader out on the court," Long added. "I love that the girls look up to me for things. I don't think it has too much of an effect on me for the year."

A prime example of Long's talent on the court came in the district final match against Camden-Frontier, in which she rallied her team from a rough first set. Long finished with 22 kills, 11 digs, seven blocks and went 23-for-24 serving with 20 points and eight aces in a four-set win.

Long is pleased with her senior season in which she didn't overwhelm herself with a multitude of goals.

"One goal of mine was to make first team All-State, but getting (Player of the Year) was a big honor," Long said. "There are plenty of girls who deserve this just as much as I do."

PAST WINNERSAlexis Long became the third Lenawee Christian volleyball standout to receive the county Player of the Year honor. Here is a look at the all-time winners since the Daily Telegram began giving out the honor in 2006.